re-configured system. Advice and suggestions please!
 

I designed this computer because I got a boost in funds, this computer still doesn't max out my funds. Just seeing if any of your guys have suggestions on it and if you have a suggestion for a good case. I'd liek to make this a silent system, so any info is good info!

Thanks



Here's the stuff:

mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813152049

vid. card

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...2E16814122201R

PSU

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817104154

CPU

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103502

RAM

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145450

HDD

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822152017

CPU cooler

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16835103157

I got about 1200 bucks to spend with tax and all.

i've never had good luck with refurbished graphics cards from newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835109118
i've heard many good things about this HS

oo, thanks. Well in the event my refurbished dies, i'll get it replaced :) thanks for the suggestion.

Good choices for the most part. I would say go for a Seagate 7200.7 120gb HD. I have two in RAID 0 and couldn't be happier. What will the rig be used for primarily? If for gaming I would suggest trying to obtain a plain vanilla 6800 or an X800xl. Also look for memory with good TCCD chips. I'm a Geil fan myself. You'll be hard pressed to beat the XP-120 with a good low speed 12cm fan. What case will you use? This will be a huge factor in keeping your rig quiet. If you need more help... just ask :)

That spec would make a solid machine. However, you'll need to make some changes to make it truly quiet.

The vidcard fan will be your first problem. Gigabyte sells fanless 6600GTs, so that might be worth the extra money to you. If you don't like that, the VGA Silencers are popular mods.

I've heard that the Chaintech mobo now has an active NB cooler. You can try Speedfan, a Zalman passive HS, etc. Just don't expect it to be inaudible without work.

The OCZ PSU will be noticeably louder than the Seasonic S12 you specced before. In a truly quiet setting, even the Seasonic is likely to be audible at small distances or in high case temperatures. If the thought of swapping PSU fans scares you, consider spending the extra on the S12. BTW, your configuration will not require more than a (quality) 300W PSU, and an S12-380 is pretty close to the OCZ's price.

Nice CPU. However, I think most people would choose the Venice core over the Winchester. Not a big difference, but Newegg has the Venice for less money right now.

What case are you getting? You want 120mm fans and some method of isolating HD vibration. Lots of options here, so let us know what you're thinking.

Don't forget an optical drive!

The case has yet to be determined, and I'm probably going to take the CPU down to a 1.8 ghz, I, apparently, don't have 1,200 dollars to spend. I have around 900-1000. Some issues came up =/ No problem I'll still manage, thanks a bunch guys! I'll post what I'm changing too soon...after I figure it all out :P.

ok, here's the system as I currently have it, anything is subject to change due to the fact that my funds may change.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811156018
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813180070
Video card:http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...2E16814122201R
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103536
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145440
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822152017
keyboard/mouse: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16823109132
DvD/CD drive: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827106984
CPU HS: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16835109118

i still would liek suggestions on this stuff, I might OC, but I don't quite know yet (it's scary and foreign to me). keep the suggestions and comments coming! thanks

Don't cheap out on the MB, Case, or PSU. Do it and you'll regret it.

Personally I'd suggest a Chieftec Mid Tower for $10 more. Superior build quality. You could also try a Lian Li PC7 or a Kingwin KT 424.

Your original MB choice was great. Don't cheap out on it.

If you are looking for a good PSU on the cheap, look for the E-Power Tagan 480W. They are almost as good as PC Power and Cooling PSUs but will only put a $70 hole in your wallet as opposed to a $200 hole.

The 3000+ Venice is a good CPU. Plently of OC headroom and very low heat output. If you are serious about silence, I'd underclock and undervolt it - you can get away with even slower fans.

Soltek mobos are bargain bin. I don't trust them to run solitare.

I like Antec PSUs - have had very good luck with them.

Frenzy, I'm getting a little confused here. How about telling us how and why you're choosing these components? Any other options you're considering? For example, it's hard for me to comment on the new mobo without knowing why you chose it over the Chaintech. I get the feeling you're going to keep suggesting different component until no one posts any shortcomings, but there are no such parts.

In any event, that Raidmax case looks terrible to me. The fan grilles are a particular flag and rule this case out for a quiet PC. Check out the Evercase 4252 for a BIG improvement here.

If money gets tight, consider the XP-90 HSF from SVC. It's half the price of the XP-120 from Newegg and cools nearly as well.

And I stick by what I posted earlier.

I'm not being very....let's say smart in the component choosing area. I don't really know what to choose, I don't exactly know what companies are good, I understand what everything is (mostly), I just swap components a lot, and I don't know why. I wanted a PSU that already has PCI-E adaptors on it, but I could just get an adaptor. My biggest problem is my money, I don't know if I can get what I want for the price. In terms of case I know that i'd like something simple, nothing that's too crazy looking. I checked out the Evercase 4252 and I like it (thanks for the suggestion ^.-). I mainly want a cheap system, that I can upgrade (so I'd like PCI-E). The silent part isn't that big of an issue, it was something I would like to have, but if it means lower quality components so I don't have to deal with noise, then I'd give it up. If there's some way to make my computer quiet, cheap, and open to upgrades in the future then I'd be glad to go for it. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for all yer help guys.

Oh and what is PATA (is it a different term for IDE?), also what's the difference between PCI-E 16X and PCI-E 1x? I never understood that, I assumed the 1X was for anything that wasn't a video card (I'm assuming PCI-E 16x is for the video cards, or are there suprises to be unfolded there too?).

PATA = Parallel ATA (as opposed to SATA or serial ata.) Its the same standard ribbon cable that you know and love - call it IDE if you want.

PCI-E 16x is a longer version (and more bandwidth) than the 1x. PCI-E is designed to be scalable like that. 16x is for video cards. 1x is for everything else.

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The venice 3000+ is low enough heat that you can use the stock cooler w/ no issues. Only spend the extra cash if you are REALLY worried about the noise. I'd try the stock one out and see how it is before dropping more on a aftermarket cooler.

I really like the Antec NeoPower psu. Its modular, has the 24pin ATX 2.0 plug and native PCI-E and SATA power connectors. Its very stable and fairly quite.

Just remember, NEVER EVER skimp on the PSU and mobo. Get the best you can afford (that does what you need.) Flaky motherboards just plain suck - and are a big part of those "random lockups" and other issues that plague people. Low end PSUs are the other big sources of problems - especially BSODs and lockups/reboots during gaming.


I have that model LiteOn and its a nice drive. I like my Plextor SATA dvd burner more but not by much.

Remember that the new/next gen ATI cards will be out soon. You might see a price drop with ATI cards in the coming months. How soon do you need to get this?

pata = ide = parallel ide
sata = serial ide

I'll be buying it within a few weeks. I could wait but my current computer won't run any games (it's a mac, sad I know) and I want a better computer than I have. So I COULD wait, but I'd like not to. Thanks for all yer help.

to get really technical (on this site?? never) IDE is a kinda whitepaper technology (Integrated/Intelligent Drive Electronics) whereby one puts the drive controller (intelligence) directly on the disk drive (be it a cd drive, hdd, etc.)

It doesn't address anything with regards to speed, signaling, cabling and so its not really a standard. But it was first on the scene.

ATA is the actual spec that describes the controller (originally an isa addin card but finally integrated on the mobo as part of the south bridge) the data rates, cable interface connections, and all that good stuff.

Thats why we have ATA-2, ATA-3, ..... ATA/66, ATA/100, ATA/133. The ATA specs all define a parallel data connection.


Serial ATA is just the ATA spec used for serial data transmissions (ie. SATA-150 and SATA-300)

well that clears a lot up :) does anybody have a suggestion for a sound card? I don't even know if I need one, I'll be listening to music a lot and gaming a lot. I don't know if that really means I need anythign besides an integrated one.

The Vnf4 will (3 as well for that matter) needs an 18 amp 12v rail minimum. Since it's a 24 pin, I would recommend a ATX 2.0. spec, The easiest way to search at newegg is for dual 12v rails, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103499 is the minimum I would get. Basicly a fortron with Sparkle name.

I just need something stable, cheap, and supports PCI-E. i'm assuming ATX2.0 supports PCI-E?

sorry 'bout the double post, but will that PSU work with the chaintech motherboard? I just want to be sure. thanks again.

I'd seriously look at the Tagan PSU that I suggested. They are really as good as you can get. I'd stick with onboard sound in the beginning. If you feel the need for better quality sound you can always buy an add in card (audigy 2, solid card)

Ok, i'll go with that PSU :) Can't do any harm

I was thinking of switching over to AGP versus PCI-e. I mean in the end all these systems amount to is more speed. DDR2 is more speed, 64-bit is more speed. And AGP is still fast enough, I'll already have aeverything I need, so hwy not just go with AGP?

AGP is more or less dying out. I'm not sure how long you plan on this system lasting and if you plan on upgrading or not.

If you were just going to built it and leave it alone until it dies, then AGP is just fine. If you want to upgrade in 12-18 months, then PCI-E is a requirement.

nah, I won't be ugprading for a bit. I mean As long a smy system will run the game ssmoothly (not even at max setting) then I'm fine. I realize when newer system start demanding something there is no way the system i'm getting can provide, then I'll upgrade. But I figure It'll last about 2 years, for just casual gaming and such.